Editorial
Why this abominable discrimination?
Equality is a matter of right, not of privilege
IT is an eye-opener of a news report appearing in this paper on Thursday. It reveals in shocking detail the depth and dimension of social prejudice otherwise incipient being at play vis-a-vis members belonging to the lower stratum of society. To be honest, we find it repugnant to our sensibilities to even label them as 'untouchables' or 'dalits', because they are not only one of us, but also the ones who do yeoman's service to society. But for the services of the cobblers, dhopis (washermen), sweepers, janitors and barbers society would have come to a standstill.
The narrative of discrimination they are subjected to, like for instance, being turned away from tea stalls, denied access to schools or boycotting them in games and sports, makes a horrific reading in man's inhumanity to man. Actually, such behaviour should be against our very grain -- both our religion and the country's constitution are clearly wedded to equality of citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed and faith.
Yet, the hard truth is that there are pockets in the country of social under-classes who are being discriminated against more overtly than perhaps covertly. This is shame in a secular, democratic and pluralistic society that we take so much pride in calling ourselves.
We know of persons coming from low caste or origins rising to the height of professions they were educated and trained in by virtue of their access to such avocations. If we look around we might find some examples in our own country.
Treating any segment of the populace as something of a social outcast just because they were born to a particular caste is anachronism in the present-day world. It is inhuman to the extent of being self-demeaning. While focussed NGO activism is needed for assimilating them as useful members of the society, the broad community and local body leaderships can do a lot in sensitising people to extricate themselves from what we would like to believe to be vestigial remnants of age-old prejudices whose time is up and over.
We must uphold human decency including dignity of labour not as a matter of compassion but respect for others' rights as citizens.
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